 Industry Pro Newsletter: Six Recoups, Government Funding Shifts in Australia and Canadaby Alex Freeman - March 27, 2023 Governmental funding shifts continue around the globe as governments reveal their latest budget proposals - often with some form of a decrease of support for the creative economy as these countries wind down the support they offered at the height of the pandemic. Industry Pro Newsletter: UK Extends Tax Relief, Room Won't Come to Broadwayby Alex Freeman - March 20, 2023 While the UK grapples with unruly audiences (not an issue unique to the West End by any means), one critic makes the case that the way we are discussing unruly audiences doesn’t have the best interest of the art form in mind - that it gives it a sense of snobbishness that doesn’t invite more audiences in to enjoy a show.  Get to Know the Tony Nominatorsby Cara Joy David - March 27, 2023 This time of year, most know the most important people in the industry are sadly not anyone putting on a show, but rather the Tony nominators. Usually, this is the time that many selected nominators start dropping out, typically because of involvement in an eligible production or failure to see all eligible productions. This season, we’ve so far had very few recusals, so as of now there is a pretty full slate. Industry Pro Newsletter: Jujamcyn Ruling in Covid Suit, Easter Bonnet Competition Returnsby Alex Freeman - March 13, 2023 Dance news, lawsuits, and J.J. Abrams is coming to the stage all featured in this week's newsletter, along with a surprisingly strong report on the state of the creative economy in California. If California is any indication, there is reason for hope even as the bounceback is slower in other parts of the country as we re-emerge from the pandemic.  Mid-Career Playwrights Struggle to Get Support in Youth-Focused Industryby Cara Joy David - March 20, 2023 Theater is often focused on the young. One would think this is only true on the stage—actors and appearance receive the bulk of attention. But behind-the-scenes it is that way too. With a few exceptions for established writers like Tom Stoppard, emerging writers are given way more attention than older ones.  Dueling ANNE OF GREEN GABLES Musicals Head to Courtby Cara Joy David - March 13, 2023 Theater fans are used to seeing multiple shows with the same name. We all know about the dueling WILD PARTYs. Yet the producer of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: A NEW MUSICAL has felt the need to go to court to ask the court to declare the show legally entitled to keep its name. Industry Pro Newsletter: Cherry Lane Acquired, Weissberg Commissions Announcedby Alex Freeman - March 6, 2023 A24 is entering the live theatre realm - the revered production and distribution company has acquired the Cherry Lane Theater. We’ve long seen media companies make their way toward Broadway, but A24 entering the off-Broadway space comes after Audible successfully did so a few seasons ago. Industry Pro Newsletter: Antisemitic Protests at Parade, New AEA Report on EDIby Alex Freeman - February 27, 2023 The growing threat of antisemitism in our culture spilled onto Broadway last week as a group of neo-Nazi’s protested outside preview performances of Parade. Cara Joy David dives into that, and how it fits into the wider cultural conversation and what we should be doing in our day to day lives to further combat this alarming growth of antisemitism.  PARADE Protesters Bring Growing Antisemitism to the Streetsby Cara Joy David - February 27, 2023 In some ways, it was a surprise that antisemites took to the streets last week to demonstrate outside of PARADE. We don't see that sort of thing outside a Broadway show. We don't typically see it at all in New York City. But, if you were paying attention--and, as a member of an Anti-Defamation League NextGeneration Advisory Board, I have been--you would know that antisemitic sentiment is increasingly spilling onto the streets.  WOLF PLAY's Wall of Free Propsby Cara Joy David - March 6, 2023 When walking into MCC Theater to see Hansol Jung‘s WOLF PLAY, you are greeted by very little on the floor where the action will take place—a couch, a table, some balloons—but yet an entire wall chock full of stuff. Where did the stuff come from? Some came from part productions the team members have worked on, but much of it came from NYC. Industry Pro Newsletter: Hal Luftig Company Declares Bankruptcy, New Ohio to Closeby Alex Freeman - February 20, 2023 Earlier this month, the Box Office of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Center became tied up in a cyber attack - not unlike the attack that tied up the Met’s box office for weeks - offering everyone a reminder that cyber security vulnerabilities should be examined by institutions of all shapes and sizes.  Broadway Producing Heavyweight Hal Luftig Company Declares Bankruptcyby Cara Joy David - February 20, 2023 As last year wound to a close, the Hal Luftig Company, Inc. (which I'll call the 'Company' for short), well-known producer Hal Luftig's theatrical production company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In layman’s terms, the goal is to come out of bankruptcy with a payment plan which will enable the Company to pay off its debts on a set schedule. Meanwhile, Luftig continues to produce. Industry Pro Newsletter: Are audiences worse behaved? The Antonyo's (Renamed) Returnsby Alex Freeman - February 13, 2023 Recent reporting from the UK has many, anecdotally at least, convinced that post-pandemic shutdown audiences are significantly worse behaved than they were before the pandemic. While we don’t have hard data to back up that claim, the stories in the linked article below about the audience behavior are certainly eyebrow raising.  The Return of the Antonyo Awards (With Another Name)by Cara Joy David - February 13, 2023 On October 7, 2022--a mere three days before 2nd Annual Antonyo Awards were supposed to take place at the Apollo Theater--the Antonyos were canceled. The related press release was light on details. Rumors swirled. Broadway Black founder Drew Shade, who originally conceived of the awards in 2020, stayed silent publicly. Industry Pro Newsletter: Innovate to Survive, Tony Eligibility Decisions Raises Eyebrowsby Alex Freeman - February 6, 2023 In both the US and the UK government funding decisions have shifted the way that many companies are able to go about their business - in England, the massive shift in Arts Council England funding has left many major stages looking to fill huge gaps in their books.  How INTO THE WOODS Worked Around the Tony Rules for Brian d'Arcy Jamesby Cara Joy David - February 6, 2023 Brian d'Arcy James is Tony eligible this season for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in INTO THE WOODS. But he didn't perform on INTO THE WOODS on what appeared to be the revival's opening night, July 10, as required by the Tony rules for eligibility. So how is he eligible? The Broadway League allowed the show to change its opening night after the fact. Industry Pro Newsletter: A Look at Broadway's Comeback, The Leadership Shuffle Continuesby Alex Freeman - January 30, 2023 Audiences are buying tickets closer to the actual show date - but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re making the decision to see the show late. In a post-COVID era, audiences are more attuned to the fact that things can shift, and so in an effort to protect themselves from navigating a cancellation, they’re waiting to purchase their tickets.  Where Will the Tonys Have ROOM?by Cara Joy David - January 30, 2023 Sometimes seasons go by without any truly perplexing questions for the Tony Award Administration Committee to answer. This will not be one of those seasons. As I wrote last month, there are close calls on what will be considered a new play versus revival and now thrown into the mix is the play or musical decision involving ROOM. Industry Pro Newsletter: Alive Downtown Alliance, Labor Issues on the West Endby Alex Freeman - January 23, 2023 With more frequency, we are starting to see alliances of theaters come together across different regions to create a stronger entity. And that isn’t a surprising development. Given the rising costs within the industry, collaboration continues to be one of the best ways to keep those costs down. How Regional Theaters Are Making it Work in 2023by Cara Joy David - January 23, 2023 A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the problems regional theaters are having attracting audiences. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula. Audience members I’ve spoken to on my trips to regionals have cited all kinds of reasons for being there.  Subscribe to BroadwayWorld's Industry Pro Newsletter on LinkedInby HaleyJane Rose - January 17, 2023 Stay up-to-date on the latest latest industry news, trends, and offers by subscribing to our weekly Industry Pro newsletter on LinkedIn. Industry Pro Newsletter: Multiple High-Profile Leadership Departuresby Alex Freeman - January 17, 2023 A new labor agreement in the UK, multiple high profile departures, and the end of the streaming truce between AEA and SAG-AFTRA are the highlights of this week’s Industry Pro newsletter, which indicates an industry that is in the midst of roaring back and finding its footing.  The Equity/SAG-AFTRA Streaming Deal is Doneby Cara Joy David - January 17, 2023 We've got the latest scoop on the Equity/SAG-AFTRA streaming deal. Actors Equity Association is no longer in charge of theater streaming, at least according to SAG-AFTRA. Industry Pro Newsletter: Directors in the UK, Women of Color Leaving Theater at Alarming Rateby Alex Freeman - January 9, 2023 how are things going regionally? This week, Cara Joy David takes a look at what bumpy waters might be ahead for these large regional companies. Additionally, stories of troubling trends on who is leaving the field - women of color, directors in the UK - and theaters adjusting their leadership models as they step into an unknown future.  Regional Theaters Need Your Support Nowby Cara Joy David - January 9, 2023 Theater folks in New York tend to be focused on what is happening in New York. But theaters all across the country -- the professional regional theaters, the community theaters, the commercial houses -- are part of the same theater ecosystem that New York theaters are part of. |
